Badlands Bible Camp, North Dakota

My visits to the Bible Camps in North Dakota ended (May 26th) in Medora at Badlands Bible Camp. The camp is located about five miles from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and shares the unique landscape of that area (see photo).

I arrived about noon and the staff was just rising from a late night. During the hour wait before "breakfast," a number of the staff members had gathered on the porch of the lodge to enjoy a cup of coffee and the shade from the noon day heat. I was able to join them and we had quite the conversation on everything from politics to religion to Ole and Lena jokes. I guess you could say it was both enlightening and entertaining.

Over our meal I was able to formally introduce myself to the entire staff (see photo), give them information about Luther Seminary and seminary study in general, and present myself to them as a resource.

Unfortunately my visit with them ended after breakfast and I took my leave and began my return to Minnesota. My sincere thanks to program director, Chris Moe, and director, Brent Seaks, for allowing me this opportunity, and to the staff for your willingness to invite the stranger into your midst.

Upper Missouri Bible Camp, North Dakota

Wednesday morning, May 24th, saw me on the road heading west across the vast prairies of North Dakota — gorgeous countryside. I even passed through the geographic center of North America in Rugby. It was a nice place to have lunch.

I arrived at Upper Missouri Bible Camp in time to join the staff for supper. The camp is hidden in a valley with a hill in the middle (the staff photo was taken on the hill). Surrounding the campground of prairie grasses, few trees and well-maintained buildings is a meandering river/lake (Springbrook Dam to be exact) and birds of all kinds; it is amazing. I was welcomed with great hospitality.

On Thursday morning I had the opportunity to speak to the staff concerning the topics of the ELCA, vocation/calling, discernment, and seminary study and Luther Seminary specifically. It was a good informational session and I especially enjoyed talking to them about vocation, discernment and the possibilities available with a seminary education.

My thanks to director Nick Johnson for the invitation, to program director Marti Rokke for being a great hostess, and to all the staff for allowing me to be with them if only for a short time. I enjoyed myself immensely.

Red Willow Bible Camp, North Dakota

My summer travels have begun! During the summer I travel to Bible camps, and my first stop is Red Willow Bible Camp in the heart of east central North Dakota. It is an amazing oasis among the vast prairieland that stretches across this part of the state. The camp sits on a hill that overlooks beautiful Red Willow Lake, and where each evening ends with a glorious sunset.



I arrived with the summer staff (see photo below) on Monday and have enjoyed getting to know them as they get to know each other. They are a mixture of college and high school students, and I believe all of them are studying at North Dakota schools. Many are local to the area. Like all camp staffs, they are a talented bunch with a deep love for Christ and for kids of all ages.



Throughout my time with them I have been available as a resource not only about seminary study, but I also had a chance to do some teaching in the areas of "how to lead a Bible study," "devotional ideas" and "ministry as a vocation." It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

It has been proven statistically that working at a Bible camp is an influential factor in a person's journey toward a church vocation. Already a few counselors working here have indicated future vocations as a youth minister, medical missionary and international worker for the church.

I leave tomorrow and will head west to another fine camp in North Dakota - Upper Missouri.

Student Hosts

Today our staff held an appreciation luncheon for our student hosts (a few of them are pictured below). Student hosts meet with prospective students who visit campus. They give them a campus tour, introduce them to other students, share a meal with them, take them to class and answer all kinds of questions about seminary study and student life. Our student hosts play an important part in making a prospective students visit to our campus the best it can be; many thanks to them for their hospitality and hard work this past year.

If you would like to schedule a visit to Luther Seminary and be hosted by one of our fine and capable student hosts, please contact our Welcome Coordinator, Barbara McCauley. She can be contacted by e-mail at welcome@luthersem.edu or by calling 800-3LUTHER.

Left to right, Matt Poock, Rob Godsall-Myers, Kristina Johnson, Erin Bovendam

Left to right, Nick Schneider, Scott Nocton, Kelly Larson, Jen Newsome, Linda Webster